Diseases: Crushing

Crushing or on lying occurs worldwide affecting newborn piglets and piglets. The effects are injury or death for the piglet.

Causes of Crushing

The underlying reason for crushing and is lying about the disparity between the size of the piglet at birth (1.2 kg) and that of the sow (250 kg) and occurs particularly when the sow lies down to rest or to Suckle the litter.
 
Crushing failure of the results from the sow or piglet to avoid as a result of illness or behavioral problems in the sow which lead her to ignore the piglets. It occurs most frequently in systems of husbandry which do not fully protect the piglet from the sow lying or provide a separate environment.
 
Piglet reason for failure include:
  • starvation leading to frequent testing of the udder and therefore exposure to the danger area
  • hypoglycaemia that resulted from starvation
  • splay leg, Joint ill and other lamenesses
  • results in septicemia and fever illness in the piglet
  • weakness at birth and chilling
Husbandry factors in crushing include:
  • inadequate separation of sow and litter
  • long straw bedding so piglets can not escape
  • inadequate rail or crate design
  • low temperature - in temperate climates, farrowing room temperatures may be fine during the day but drop sharply at night, room temperatures should be checked during the night if a problem is about lying
Sow factors include:
  • mastitis
  • general illness such as erysipelas which lead to reduction in sow milk supply
  • lame ness which results in poor movement control
  • Inexperienced and behavior as in gilt
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Effects of Crushing

Crushing may be detected by the sound of a squealing piglet. In all farrowing accommodation, may be heard squealing, signaling a trapped piglet.
 
In normal circumstances, the sow responds and releases the animal. If it is not injured, then it may escape.
 
More frequently, dead piglets are found beneath the sow or bearing injuries which suggest that crushing has duties place. If a squealing piglet can be identified, then it may be lame, have congenital tremor, splay leg or have reduced ability to escape for physical reasons.
 
Where the piglet is not seen in life, at least one of the other piglets in the litter may be affected by causes of piglet failure. Starvation, diarrhea, chilling, splay leg, congenital tremor weakness and often affect the whole litter.
 
Illness in the sow, such as agalactia, May be obvious from direct inspection. The sow may not have eaten and may be depressed or fevered. Scratches from piglet tooth marks may be visible on the udder or there may be visible evidence ofmastitis and agalactia.
 
Lame Ness in the sow can be identified by inspection, but it is often necessary to get the sow to stand before this can be confirmed. Behavioral problems often occur in gilt and may take the form of savage or simple poor mother.
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Diagnosis of Crushing

When crushing is heard or seen, it is easily identified. In most circumstances, are found dead piglets and crushing is presumed. It is important for production recording to confirm that crushing has genuinely tasks place and that the sow did not lie on the already dead piglet.
 
This can be done by inspection of the piglet for evidence of damage - feeling for broken bones, bruising, evidence of blood from the mouth or evidence that death took place as a result of some other cause, such as poor viability in newborn piglets. They have a covering or membrane, fleshy cords and intact cartilaginous tips to their toes if they have not walked.
 
Expert post-mortem examination may be required to confirm that crushing took place. The predisposing cause may be determined by examination of the litter for clinical signs of illness such as splay leg, but veterinary post-mortem examination is usually required to identify predisposing causes in dead piglets.
 
Husbandry factors such as chilling, pen design and the influence of unsuitable flooring / bedding can be determined by inspection.
 
Examination of the sow for physical illness is straightforward and rests on the clinical signs, but detection of behavioral problems may require prolonged observation.
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Treatment & Control of Crushing

Living crushed piglets Assessed for damage and should be supported until viable again or killed humanely if unlikely to survive.
 
Crushing can be prevented by correction of the underlying problem.
  • Where the sow is ill (mastitis, erysipelas) And can be treated, the litter should be supported until she has recovered.
  • Where the problem can not be resolved during the sucking period (lame ness, serious illness), the litter may be fostered or reared artificially.
  • Sows with behavioral problems should be culled from crushing or prevented by physical means, such as crates.
  • Husbandry measures can prevent crushing.
  • The most useful short term measure is the use of a blow away unit which produces a current of air beneath the sow each time she stands up and piglets prevents her from settling underneath, where they may be crushed.
  • Farrowing crates should be adjusted for the size of the sow. Poor crate design can be corrected, but only in the longer term.
  • Farrowing pen and warm lighting should be adjusted creeps provided to separate piglets from the sow, particularly at farrowing.
  • Attendance at farrowing may reduce crushing.
  • Fine bedding, such as sawdust should be provided.
  • Piglet problems can be corrected by managing splay leg, treating infections and providing supplementary feeding.
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